Children's books and book reviews - reading resource for kids, teachers, librarians, parents






*Tree-Ring Circus* by Adam Rex

 
Also written and/or illustrated by Adam Rex:

Chu's First Day of School

Unlucky Charms (The Cold Cereal Saga)

Small Beauties: The Journey of Darcy Heart O'Hara

Lucy Rose: Busy Like You Can't Believe
 
Tree-Ring Circus
by Adam Rex
Kindergarten-Grade 3 32 pages Harcourt June 2006 Hardcover    

It begins innocently enough, “a seed in the ground, two rain clouds, then three… surprisingly there appears a fast-growing tree.” As a series of rhymes builds to an improbable event, the fast-growing tree is home to a few strays: a cat, three chipmunks, two sparrows, a bee, five mice and a raven.

But a traveling circus stops nearby, and clever apes unlock the cage, releasing a bevy of animals onto the limbs of the tree, among them one lion, three squirrels, a clown, a bear, an ostrich and an elephant.

Empty, the circus wagons rumble away down the hill; meanwhile, the circus animals clamor up the branches of the tree, the elephant perched on top in this unusual balancing act. Of course, it is impossible!

It’s an amazing sight: “Thirty-three animals, counting the clown, get up off the ground, without making a sound.” But then the poor tree collapses under the weight of too many creatures. Where once grew a tree, tall and strong, nothing remains but a few twigs, trampled grass and the footprints of animals who fell back to earth.

The illustrations are done by author Adam Rex. This imaginative and lively children’s book is cleverly wrought, enchanting and whimsical, elaborate and colorful, the drawings the backbone of this humorous tale. Any child will enjoy this laugh-out-loud fantasy journey again and again.



click here to browse children's board book reviews
click here to browse children's picture book reviews
click here to browse young readers book reviews
click here to browse young readers book reviews
click here to browse young adult book reviews
click here to browse parenting book reviews
 
web reviews
  Luan Gaines/2006 for curled up with a good kid's book  






For grown-up fiction, nonfiction and speculative fiction book reviews,
visit our sister site Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)